Iarnrod Eireann is to continue its work on Killiney strand to protect the DART line after a heated meeting last night of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Council accepted that passenger safety must take precedence over environmental issues.
But a senior divisional engineer for the State-owned company, Mr John Haughey, admitted that Iarnrod Eireann had made a "major" error in not informing the public of its plans for a temporary solution.
He and Mr David Reid, representing Carl Bro, the Danish structural engineers, apologised profusely for this during last night's extended meeting of the council.
The council debated an emergency motion which called for a total cessation of work at Killiney "until a more environmentally friendly scheme" could be agreed between Iarnrod Eireann, the Department of the Marine and the local authority. It was proposed by Labour councillor Ms Jane Dillon-Byrne and seconded by Mr Vincent MacDowell of the Green Party.
Mr Haughey told the meeting that the problem at Killiney was thought to be potentially acute.
The engineers said that some "misinformation" had been given to councillors about the volume of rock being deployed in the Killiney works.
Both Mr Reid and Mr Haughey insisted, however, that the present works were temporary. They gave assurances that Killiney beach and its environs would not suffer in the long term and indeed would be enhanced.